How Much Does HVAC School Cost in New York?
New York community colleges charge in-state students $6,006 (Monroe Community College) to $6,796 (Hudson Valley Community College) in tuition and fees for a full-time year (2024-25), and SUNY colleges of technology charge up to $8,892. Private schools in the New York City area publish whole-program prices: $11,230 at the Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center in Copiague, $17,370 at Career School of NY and $18,379 at Apex Technical School.
New York prices HVAC training in two different ways, and mixing them up is the easiest way to misjudge what a program will cost you. Public colleges charge tuition by the year. Private schools and BOCES adult programs publish one price for the entire program. A $6,006 year at Monroe Community College and an $18,379 program at Apex Technical School are not measuring the same thing.
Tuition figures below are tuition and fees for a full-time year in 2024-25 from NCES College Navigator, for in-state students unless noted. Whole-program prices are the figures NCES publishes for the full program, start to finish.
Community Colleges Charge $6,006 to $6,796 a Year
New York’s community colleges are the lowest-tuition option if you live in the state. Here is every public college HVAC program in this data, cheapest first:
| School | City | In-state tuition and fees | Out-of-state | Books and supplies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe Community College | Rochester | $6,006 | $11,056 | $1,200 |
| SUNY Erie Community College | Williamsville | $6,100 (in-district) | $11,300 | $2,800 |
| Fulton-Montgomery Community College | Johnstown | $6,198 | $6,798 | $900 |
| Mohawk Valley Community College | Utica | $6,218 | $8,851 | $1,600 |
| Suffolk County Community College | Brentwood | $6,630 | $12,460 | $1,500 |
| Hudson Valley Community College | Troy | $6,796 | $11,852 | $1,500 |
| CUNY New York City College of Technology | Brooklyn | $7,332 | $15,282 | $1,500 |
| SUNY College of Technology at Canton | Canton | $8,742 | $13,572 | $1,300 |
| SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | Delhi | $8,772 | $12,762 | $1,300 |
| SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | Alfred | $8,892 | $16,837 | $1,200 |
Monroe Community College in Rochester has the lowest in-state tuition in the state for HVAC. Its Air Conditioning Technology AAS covers heat pumps, controls and Manual J load calculation, and its labs were designed by Siemens Energy Management.
Mohawk Valley Community College is a good value if you want room to grow: every course in its one-year HVAC certificate applies toward the two-year AOS, so you can stop after a year or keep going without losing credits.
Fulton-Montgomery Community College has the smallest gap for out-of-state students, $6,198 in state and $6,798 out of state, and its 30-credit certificate runs over one fall and one spring semester.
SUNY Colleges of Technology Cost More but Go Deeper
The three SUNY colleges of technology, at Alfred, Canton and Delhi, charge more per year than the community colleges, from $8,742 to $8,892 in state. What you get is a two-year degree and, in some cases, a second trade.
- SUNY Alfred pairs HVAC with plumbing and teaches hydronic boiler controls such as zone valves, injection mixing and outdoor reset. Its graduation rate was 55% for the Fall 2018 cohort, the highest among New York schools in this data.
- SUNY Delhi also combines HVAC with plumbing, and some plumbers’ unions accept the plumbing portion as the first year of a five-year apprenticeship.
- SUNY Canton offers an HVAC Engineering Technology AAS accredited by ABET’s Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission, plus two shorter certificates.
These suit you if you want a degree and like the idea of pairing HVAC with plumbing or engineering technology.
Private Schools and BOCES Price the Whole Program
Outside the college system, you pay one price for the full program:
| School | City | Whole-program tuition and fees | Books and supplies | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES | Liverpool | $8,948 | $990 | 715 clock hours, about 6 months |
| Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center | Copiague | $11,230 | $2,720 | 600 clock hours, about 5 months |
| Career School of NY | Staten Island | $17,370 | $300 | 900 clock hours, about 8 months |
| Apex Technical School | Queens | $18,379 | $451 | 900 clock hours, about 8 months |
OCM BOCES near Syracuse is the lowest whole-program price in this group. Each student receives a tool kit that includes an electrical meter and a refrigerant gauge manifold, and the program lists OSHA and EPA testing fees, so you test for both during the program.
The Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center on Long Island opens with a 150-hour All Trades block that includes 30-hour OSHA training, then moves through three 150-hour HVAC/R levels. Evening sessions run 6 to 10:30 p.m., which helps if you are working days.
Career School of NY on Staten Island combines electrical assistant training with HVAC in a hybrid 900-hour certificate. You can take it on a day schedule of about 8 months or an evening schedule of about 12 months.
Apex Technical School in Queens conferred 200 HVAC awards in 2024-25, the most in New York. Its six-course sequence adds major appliance repair and cooling tower operation to residential and commercial refrigeration, with new starts every few weeks.
Erie 1 BOCES near Buffalo also runs a 300-hour HVAC Technician certificate with day and evening sections and a required off-site internship; students take the EPA 608 exam during the program.
Graduation Rates Change What You Really Pay
A low price only helps if you finish. NCES publishes an overall graduation rate for each college, and among New York’s public HVAC schools it varies a lot:
- SUNY Alfred: 55% (Fall 2018 cohort)
- SUNY Delhi: 45% (Fall 2018 cohort)
- Fulton-Montgomery Community College: 40% (Fall 2021 cohort)
- Mohawk Valley Community College and SUNY Canton: 38%
- Hudson Valley Community College: 35% (Fall 2021 cohort)
- Suffolk County Community College: 29% (Fall 2021 cohort)
- SUNY Erie Community College: 28% (Fall 2021 cohort)
- Monroe Community College: 27% (Fall 2021 cohort)
- CUNY City Tech: 21% (Fall 2018 cohort)
These rates cover the whole college, not just the HVAC program, so treat them as a rough signal. Still, if two schools cost about the same, it is worth asking each one how many HVAC students finish, and what support they offer if you work while you study. The how long HVAC school takes guide covers typical program lengths, which affect how many semesters of tuition you pay.
Books, Supplies and Out-of-State Costs
Books and supplies vary more than you might expect. SUNY Erie Community College lists $2,800 for a year, and the Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center lists $2,720 on top of its program price. At the other end, Career School of NY lists $300 and Apex Technical School $451.
If you are moving to New York from another state, the public college advantage shrinks. Out-of-state tuition and fees reach $15,282 at CUNY City Tech and $16,837 at SUNY Alfred for a single year. The HVAC training cost guide covers what else to budget for, including tools.
Which New York Option Fits Your Budget
Upstate, lowest cost: Monroe, SUNY Erie, Fulton-Montgomery, Mohawk Valley or Hudson Valley community colleges, all between $6,006 and $6,796 a year. Browse the Utica and Troy pages for nearby programs.
Long Island: Suffolk County Community College offers day, evening and weekend degree courses at $6,630 a year, and the Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center in Copiague runs about 5 months on its day schedule.
New York City: Apex Technical School and Career School of NY cost more but start often and finish in about 8 months. CUNY City Tech in Brooklyn is the public option, with an Environmental Control Technology AAS aimed at large-building systems. See the Queens and Brooklyn pages.
Before you commit, compare the cost against what the job pays where you plan to work. The New York HVAC technician salary guide breaks down wages by metro area, and if you would rather earn while you learn, read about HVAC apprenticeship paths in New York. All programs are on the New York HVAC schools page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There a Free HVAC Course in New York?
Suffolk County Community College offers a free non-credit Heat Pump Inverter Technology course on Saturdays. It prepares students for ESCO Institute-accredited certification exams and can earn seven college credits.
How Much Do Out-of-State Students Pay for HVAC School in New York?
Out-of-state tuition and fees for 2024-25 range from $6,798 at Fulton-Montgomery Community College to $16,837 at SUNY Alfred. CUNY New York City College of Technology charges $15,282.
Which New York HVAC School Confers the Most Awards?
Apex Technical School in Queens conferred 200 HVAC awards in 2024-25, the most in the state. The Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center in Copiague was next with 115.
How Long Are New York's Private HVAC Programs?
The Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center runs 600 hours (about 20 weeks days or 27 weeks evenings), while Apex Technical School and Career School of NY each run 900 hours, about 8 months full time.
More HVAC Guides
All posts
New York · Careers
How to Get an HVAC Apprenticeship in New York
How registered HVAC apprenticeship works in New York, which college program counts toward one, and which schools prepare you to get hired as an apprentice.
New York · Salary
How Much Do HVAC Technicians Make in New York?
New York HVAC technicians earn a median $74,430 a year ($35.78 an hour), per May 2025 BLS data. Compare New York City with Syracuse, Albany, Buffalo and more.
National · Cost
What HVAC Students Spend on Books, Tools and Supplies
HVAC books and supplies run from $500 a year at St. Philip's College to $3,864 at Sampson Community College. See what schools list and what's included.